9781422279861

Unlike dietitians, nutritionists are not subject to any government regulation, do not need to meet state requirements for licensure , and do not even have any educational requirements. While some states

require nutritionists to qualify for a license from a board of nutrition, others allow people to practice as “nutritionists” without any educa- tion, training, or experience. Dietitians, by contrast, make up a regulated allied health profession that has specific requirements for education, training, and licensure. Only nutritionists who have com- pleted these requirements and reg- istered with the Commission on

Educational Video

Scan here for a video on the differ- ence between

dietitians and nutri- tionists:

Dietetic Registration (CDR) can legally call themselves registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). For the purpose of this book, we will focus primarily on becoming a registered Dietitian Nutritionist and what it is like to work as one. The Science of Food RDNs are experts in using food to manage disease and improve health. Not only do they help people make good food choices, they also teach people how their diet and exercise can create a healthy lifestyle or achieve a goal, such as losing weight or controlling diabetes. While many people assume that nutrition is a simple process, it is actually a very complex science, involving biology , chemistry, human anatomy, and physiology. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, RDNs have the training to assess people’s individ-

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Dietitian Nutritionist